What benefit are Bullbars/Roo Bars?

[MountainBiker]

I'm talking about the metal loops that extend upward from aftermarket bumpers, up to around hood height. I can see some benefit for animal hits, but that is about all I can think off. Any other benefits?


The reason I ask, is I have a bumper with these "roo bars", and I'm thinking of removing them. The bumper is from Austrailia, and is designed to be "airbag compliant". The company is now out of business, since it seems that there isn't much interest in the offroad parts for Subarus!

At any rate, to be airbag compliant, the bumper utilizes the OEM stamped sheet metal "crush" piece. This piece supports to complete bumper, and is designed to collapse only on larger impacts. Once it is collapsed, the airbags deploy. The weight of the bumper & roo bars seems to be too much for this crush piece after several hundred miles of extreme washboard roads, and the bumper now shakes. I think that I need to reinforce the stamped crush piece a little bit, AND remove some weight from the bumper, by removing the roo bars.

 

[mountainpete]

I only have a few seconds so this is short...

Tree protection - it deflects branches ways from the front of the vehicle preventing damage.

 

[njtaco]

Damage multipliers...

(And a place to tie the bow of your kayak... )

 

[cshontz]

I have a blog entry that delves into this somewhat.
http://ixplor.us/index.php?/arb_bull_bar/

For me, it provides an accessorizable (is that a word?) mounting surface for stuff that I didn't previously have a place for. Winch, driving lights, CB antenna, GPS antenna. Also, the addition of tow points, and front end protection. It also improved tire clearance and approach angle (somewhat) on my particular application. All kinds of benefits.

The con would be the weight.

 

[goodtimes]

(And a place to tie the bow of your kayak... )

x2.

Depending on the design, it may also offer protection for hidden components. For example, when I built mine, I did it to help protect the radiator in case I roll the jeep while off road. It is quite common to damage the radiator on jeep wranglers when they go wheels up...protection is quite common. It really depends on your vehicle...but many of them protect nothing but the owners ego.

 

[MountainBiker]

It really depends on your vehicle...but many of them protect nothing but the owners ego.

Yeah, that is what I'm thinking.

The bumper itself is useful, primarily for the improved approach angle. The Roo-Bar portion may have to go.

Here is a picture from Valley of Fire, Nevada State Park:

 

[mountainpete]

Ok... now I can add a bit more...

For the trails I like to go on, I like the added protection for deflecting branches from in front of the vehicle. Often times there are branches sticking into the trail and instead of smacking against the headlights it hits the bar - and then drags itself down the side of the truck :ar15:

It also helps if the trail is tight - I'll hit a tree with the bar - saving the lights/hood area.

The other item, which was already mentioned, is it gives me a place to tie down the front of my canoe to.

Personally, I think it looks cool on your Forester, but that's just me

 

[DaveInDenver]

Personally, I think it looks cool on your Forester, but that's just me

Yeah, I agree, that Subaru looks pretty cool.

I can't image not having that ARB bull bar on my truck. It's bumped and knocked enough stuff that I'm sure it's paid twice over by keeping my headlights, hood, radiator, grill and fenders from getting broken. I'll use the top hoop of the bumper as a latching point and it even helped in a recovery where I needed a strap to get back up on the road. The angle to my recovery points under the frame was weird and so we ended up using a D-ring to the recovery point and bringing the strap up and over the top hoop of the ARB. I look at a front bumper as a frame extension, so it's there for impact protection, lashing points, tie-down point, antenna base, beer coaster, dog leash point, obstacle feeler (slow, slow, bump, turn), parking lot shopping cart clearer, tool tray, sticker billboard.

 

[njtaco]

Personally, I think it looks cool on your Forester, but that's just me

Me too...could it be re-built lighter, as in lighter material, to accomplish you weight-saving goal? Then you would retain all the pros, assuming you bump into stuff with it, or haul a boat. :088:

I'm trying to picture the Forester with the bumper, but without the "hoops" and it still looks cool and functional. I think you are onto the right idea...

 

[MountainBiker]

Personally, I think it looks cool on your Forester, but that's just me

Yeah, I agree, that Subaru looks pretty cool.

Thanks, I like it too! Although I'm afraid it is more for looks than function, due to being attached to the Airbag crush bar, which is the weak link.

 

[devinsixtyseven]

Yup, I agree with the "lighter" suggestion. If you still wanted the main hoop (mine deflects all sorts of things that used to hit the grille, hood and windshield), like the way my ARB Sahara bar works, maybe you could just get one from aluminum? It'll still protect the front a bit.

On the other hand, NOT having the roo bar means it's easier to set stuff on the bumper, which is generally what mine is used for. As a feeler it's not worth much since 6500# means the brackets deform and then they're pretty much bent, permanently.

-Sean

 

[MountainBiker]

Actually, the parts you see are all aluminum! There is some excellent welding and bends involved in making this bar, obviously excellent craftsmanship. There is a steel bar reinforcement behind the main bumper bar.

For ease of shipment to the US, the hoop section is bolted to the main bumper, so removal will be easy, with some holes to cover up.